Sights 

Imperial Palace
The main residence of the Emperor of Japan. The palace is surrounded by a moat therefore, much of the palace is not visible. Extravagant gardens surround the palace. Wildly popular with tourists so be prepared for crowds. In April, cherry blossoms cover the grounds.

Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
Tranquil, relaxing, alluring are just a few words that immediately come to mind when I reflect about Shinjuku garden. You could spend an entire day exploring the grounds. There are viewing areas where you can bask in all of the natural beauty. The park opens at 9am and closes at 4:30 pm. I went on the weekend and it was not crowded. Entrance to the park is 200 yen (2$).

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Features a free observation deck which offers panoramic views of Tokyo and beyond. The building  has two towers and each houses a separate observation deck.

Chocolatory Kitkat store
Every Kitkat lover’s dream is located in the Seibu department store in the Ikebukuro district. Flavors range from butter, green tea, wasabi, strawberry, cream cheese, and cheesecake. Definitely a perfect choice for a memorable souvenir.

Neighborhoods
Harajuku
Upscale and affordable shopping boutique are on every corner. Many stores are separated by gender. Extremely crowded so be prepared for the throngs of tourists and locals. Great area to people watch.Ebisu
Popular area known for food and drink. There are countless restaurants and bars to choose from that offer traditional and international cuisine.

Eat

HUB-British Pub
Located in the Harajuku area. Reasonable drinks and delicious food. Portions are small so keep that in mind.

Blue Papaya
Thai restaurant located in the Ebisu area. Food is reasonably priced and everything was delectable. I personally recommend the Thai pancake.

Harajuku Crepe Cafe
Every crepe combination imaginable can be found here. There were desert and savory crepes offered as well as more unique options such as crepes filled with salad. My personal favorite was the caramel cheesecake whipped cream crepe. This cafe is every foodies dream. Definitely a must! 

Drink

Buri
Located in Ebisu. Buri is a traditional Tachinomi “stand and drink” bar. There are no seats in the entire bar. There is an extensive cocktail list and there is also a food menu. The music was great and the bar has a relaxed vibe. Patronized by locals as well as tourists and expats.

Bar (actual name)
Located in Ebisu. After cocktails, I indulged in dessert which was definitely worth every calorie. I recommend the dumplings with brown sugar sauce and green tea ice cream. It was absolutely divine.

Final Thoughts
5 days in Tokyo was an adequate amount of time to see everything that was on my list. At least a week would probably be ideal if you want to visit other parts of Japan.I would love to visit Japan once again to explore some of the other cities and attractions. I enjoyed visiting the parks and gardens more than
anything because of their unparalleled natural beauty.I found Japanese people to be friendly and willing to help in the event you’re lost. Many people spoke English so there wasn’t much of a language barrier. Prior to going to Tokyo, I read many blogs which stated how expensive everything is. I did not find Tokyo to be anymore expensive than any major city. I relied completely on public transportation but taxis and Uber are also an option. Overall, I can’t think of anything negative to say about Tokyo except  I wish I could have stayed longer. Tokyo was everything I imagined and so much more!